“None ever has.”
“Can—can a sled pass over the trail above?”
“None has. None can. The way is too rough; the trees too closely crowded together. Dogs, reindeer, men, yes; but sleds, no.”
“How far is it to the station?” Marian faltered.
“Three days journey.”
“Are there any houses on the way?”
“None.”
“Then, without our sleds, we would not dare undertake the journey.”
“No. It would not do. You would starve or freeze.”
It required all Marian’s power of will to remain standing as she faltering said; “Then we are defeated. We—we must turn back. We—” She could not go on.